Fred J. Yerke

Fred J. Yerke

AGE: 52CHILDREN: Eight

Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 199 School Board?
Education is a very important part of our lives, and having been in the Inver Grove Heights School District and reaping the benefits of it, I want to give back to the district that helped me achieve the level of success that I have in life.

What experience do you bring to this position? How have your experiences prepared you to fulfill the responsibilities of a school board member?
I have been on numerous committees responsible for both county and school functions. Also, with my background as a PCA who has worked in the mental health field for 30 years, I feel that my experience would be very beneficial to both students and staff. Through my experiences on boards, I have gained a wide range of understanding on how day-to-day operations of schools happen and are handled, how to deal with budgets and the issues that come up from time to time, as well as how to rectify budget shortfalls. I also have very extensive dealings with kids with special needs (autism, ADHD, FAS, ODD) and how to advocate for their needs.

What are the most important issues concerning the Inver Grove Heights School District and how would you address them?
Quality education is extremely important, and Inver Grove is looking at being one of the most diverse schools as far as education to the students and staff. With the way students have to learn today versus when my generation was in school (things are much more advanced), the school board, superintendent, and staff need to work as a team to utilize every opportunity that we can to provide equal opportunities to all students to get the best education possible. Having children with varying abilities from accelerated learning to cognitive disabilities, and a wife who has been in education for many years, I feel I should be able to help come up with a plan to benefit all students.
Click here to see Fred Yerke's campaign financial report.